Mikaela Mayer Believes There Will Be An Undisputed Women’s World Junior Lightweight Champion By The End of The Year
Mikaela Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) is a woman of great ambition. Although, winning a world title is not her end goal; that is only the tip of the iceberg. The 30-year-old from Los Angeles wants to set herself apart and become an undisputed world champion.
On October 31, 2020, Mayer defeated Ewa Brodnicka to win the WBO Women’s World Junior Lightweight world title. It was step one of her ultimate goal to claim all the world belts at 130. She immediately called for a unification bout against WBC World Junior Lightweight champion Terri Harper (11-0-1, 6 KOs).
That fight will not happen, at least not yet. However, Mayer’s dream of attaining unified status may be on the verge of reality.
A WOMAN ON A MISSION
Harper has signed to fight WBA Women’s Junior Lightweight champion Hyun-Mi Choi (18-0-1, 4 KOs). Mayer is in negotiations to fight IBF champion Maiva Hamadouche (22-1, 18 KOs). During an interview with Boxing Insider, the WBO champ talked about where she fits in the overall landscape.
“I ideally would like to fight Terri Harper first. I started calling her out. She told me you don’t even have a world title. Go get a belt and then come knocking.
That’s exactly what I did and now look, they’ve preserved a fight against her and Hyun Mi-Choi, who is the WBA champ. Terri’s injured; she has a broken hand. She signed a deal for that. So, there’s more reason for me to keep calling her out.
In the meantime, I want to unify this division. I’m not going to wait around for her. People didn’t think I was going to take the fight against Hamadouche. I’m glad to fight any of the world champions. I want to unify right away.
I don’t want to put my belt on the line in a non-unification fight. So, now we’re in discussions with Eddie Hearn for a fight against Hamadouche. Hopefully that can happen in May, if we all agree to terms.
Hearn, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, holds the key to all of this. He promotes Harper, Hamadouche, and Choi. If everything comes together, we could see an undisputed champion by the end of this year.
THE JUMP OFF
130 pounds is popping right now in women’s boxing. According to Mayer, she is the catalyst that got the ball rolling.
“It’s definitely the best division in boxing. But honestly, all this attention and drama and talking back and forth started with me.
I’ve been very open and very verbal. It’s a part of the game. At the end of the day, it’s entertainment. It’s a little tougher when you are females and you’re not getting the same attention and respect as the men.
I decided I had to spice it up a little bit and get everyone talking and going. In the process, I think the entire UK hates me.
But it’s going to make for a good fight. It spices up the division. I think that by the end of 2021 we will have an undisputed champion.
If I get this fight against Maiva and Choi and Harper can fight, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have an undisputed champion by the end of the year.”
Mayer sees herself as a generational fighter. In her mind, 2021 is the beginning of something truly special. She is a woman believing she is destined for greatness.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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